Sysco Halts Mexican Iceberg Lettuce Imports Amid Deadly Parasite Investigation

Sysco Corp. has halted all iceberg lettuce purchases from Mexico and is diverting procurement away from major supplier Taylor Farms following a widespread parasite outbreak linked to two deaths and thousands of illnesses.

The strategic shift by the largest U.S. food distributor comes as federal and state health agencies investigate a massive Cyclospora cayetanensis outbreak. In Michigan alone, state health officials confirmed that 11,234 people have been sickened, with two fatalities linked to the parasitic infection.

Sysco Chief Executive Kevin Hourican confirmed that the distributor stopped distributing affected products last month and executed voluntary recalls prior to public notices from its supplier. Sysco has since transitioned to U.S.-grown iceberg lettuce to maintain supply for its commercial clients.

“We’re not buying iceberg lettuce from them, and we’re not buying it from Mexico,” Hourican said in an interview. “To the degree that we can further diversify our procurement, that is something we’re actively working on.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have focused their probe on iceberg lettuce cultivated in central Mexico by Taylor Farms de Mexico. In response, Taylor Farms’ domestic entity recalled products sold under the Taylor Fresh Foods and Marketside brands, though the producer maintained that federal officials have not confirmed a positive Cyclospora sample, calling an earlier agency finding a false positive.

The outbreak has already caused disruptions across food retail and restaurant sectors. Regulators advised consumers in four states to avoid shredded lettuce products, while Taco Bell ceased sourcing from the targeted supplier after federal investigators identified potential contamination risks.

“It’s a high quality, high integrity shop, but we’ve had to take actions,” Hourican said regarding Taylor Farms. “We’ve moved source of product away from them to the degree that we can. Because they’re really big, you can’t just turn it off overnight.”

State health authorities in Michigan noted that while Cyclospora infections cause severe gastrointestinal distress—including long-lasting diarrhea, cramps, and severe dehydration—fatalities remain rare. Medical reviews indicated that both deceased patients suffered from significant underlying health conditions that were exacerbated by the infection.

As federal agencies continue their investigation, Sysco is working to build long-term sourcing redundancy outside of Mexico. “Taylor Farms is the largest producer — they’re the biggest — and if we’re not able to buy from them, we can easily go elsewhere,” Hourican said. “Replacing the amount we buy elsewhere is the challenge, and it’s something that we’re working on.”